Nineteenth-Century Greek House, Dedham 1931

Walker Evans captured this "Nineteenth-Century Greek House, Dedham" in a photograph. Note the columns that hold up the porch, and the row of decorative ornaments along the roofline, all classical motifs that evoke the architecture of ancient Greece, the birthplace of democracy. This neoclassical style, popular in the 19th-century United States, signifies more than just an architectural choice. It carries echoes of an idealized past, a connection to the values of reason, order, and civic virtue that were so central to the founders of the American republic. Consider the column, a form that originated in ancient temples and public buildings, symbolizing strength and stability. Throughout history, columns have resurfaced in various architectural styles, each time reinforcing a sense of authority. Here, it is the psychological weight of these forms that interests me. These visual symbols trigger a deep, subconscious connection to the past, illustrating how classical elements were adopted in the United States to establish a visual link to the democratic ideals of antiquity.